Previous research has shown that if countries "merge", (i.e. move to centralized policy choices) the effect is to reduce lobbying. However empirical evidence suggests that this is not always the case. This paper attempts to explain the empirical evidence in a two-jurisdiction political economy...

This paper develops a positive theory of overlapping income taxation in a federation of states. The analysis provides a complete characterization of the equilibrium federal and states tax rates as functions of the level of total productivity dispersion between the states. The federal rate is...

We examine policies directed at regulating tobacco consumption through three types of instruments: (i) an excise tax hindering consumption by increasing the price of cigarettes, (ii) prevention programs helping consumers to make choices that are more time consistent when trading-off the current...

The optimal degree of decentralization depends on the importance of inter-state externalities of local policies. We show that inter-state externalities are determined by the spatial distribution of interest groups within the country. Interest groups who have multi-state scope internalize...

Many industrialized countries have experienced an increase in environmental awareness and support to green lobby groups in past decades. This paper develops a political-economy model, based on special-interest group politics, with two large countries, intra-industry trade, and transnational...

This paper shows how competition between interests can internalize economic externalities groups. The key feature is that some lobby groups give political voice to environmental demands. We illustrate the basic ideas in a common agency model of politics, into which we introduce a negative output...

The global trading system is currently undergoing another round of trade liberalization (the Uruguay Round), and regional economic integration is occurring in several parts of the world (e.g., EU, NAFTA). A surge in the interest in the environment has made the trade-environment link a part of...

This paper shows how competition between interests can internalize economic externalities groups. The key feature is that some lobby groups give political voice to environmental demands. We illustrate the basic ideas in a common agency model of politics, into which we introduce a negative output...

The global trading system is currently undergoing another round of trade liberalization (the Uruguay Round), and regional economic integration is occurring in several parts of the world (e.g., EU, NAFTA). A surge in the interest in the environment has made the trade-environment link a part of...

This paper analyses the political economy of environmental policies in the presence of an eco-industry pressure group. Previous studies have dealt with two types of lobbies: capitalists and environmentalists. We introduce a third pressure group representing the eco-industry sector. Under this...